The night at the Imperial Palace dissolved in peace. Everyone thought so. Around midnight, however, something had happened and cast a shadow over the entire Palace.

The tragic episode started at the Palace of the Empress. In the bedroom where Adrian was asleep.

Sir Philip! Suddenly, why suddenly

Evelyns panicked voice sounded like a throbbing cry. It seemed like a minor problem at first, but by the time Sir Philip arrived, things had gone so bad that the child had almost suffocated.

Sir Philip started treatment immediately, but he felt a fiery high fever as soon as he touched the childs body.

Princess, calm down. Please tell me in detail what happened today, while Sir Philip will examine him.

Although Hans, Philips assistant, tried to appease her, Evelyn could hardly calm her mind.

Which parents heart wasnt broken when they saw their child lying sick. Evelyn couldnt get at ease when her son, who was so lively and played with his grandmother this morning, unexpectedly caught a high fever.

Princess, you must regain your composure at times like this.

Luckily, there was Rebecca beside her. Evelyn tried to swallow the pain in her throat. It was hard to breathe. The air that pierced her nose was stung like a sword. Still, she had to keep her mind sane for Adrians sake.

Nora, please tell Hans about everything Adrian did today.

Yes, Princess.

Lily, go see His Majesty now and let him know about this.

Yes Yes! I will go now.

Everyone hastened to carry out Evelyns orders.

Rebecca monitored Sir Philips medication, and Evelyn pressed her chest once more to ease her fears. Fortunately or sadly, Adrian stopped crying. But Evelyn didnt look happy at all.

Princess, Sir Hans now is looking for the cause.

Evelyn bit her lip nervously, and her eyes turned back to Adrian. The child fell asleep quietly, just as he had tired himself from playing. But it was just what looked like.

I have no choice but to use sedatives. If the condition gets even worse its very dangerous so theres no other way. Sir Phillip said honestly as if he was apologizing for having to give him the drug.

Within her mind, Evelyn understood what Sir Philip meant, but her heart was still very sore when she had to watch her son, who was put to sleep with sedatives.

I will prescribe a fever reliever medicine. His fever has to come down first. Thats the most urgent priority.

As a doctor, Philips made the right decision, as high fever was a dangerous illness that could endanger a childs life.

30 minutes No, if the fever doesnt go down in 10 minutes .

Evelyn went utterly insane when Sir Philip obscured his words. Rebecca took Evelyns hand quickly and squeezed it. She was trying to calm her down, saying that at this moment she shouldnt lose control.

Evelyn then rushed over to Adrians bedside and touched his neck. It felt boiling like it was burning with fire.

Excuse me.

As Evelyn was forced to step back, Philip and Hans took off Adrians clothes and put a cold, wet towel on his whole body. But this kind of treatment wasnt enough.

We have to help cool down the fever a little until the medicine works!

Everyone in the Empress Palace was busy bringing cold water and wetting the towels. Evelyns heart was as burn as Adrians fever because she could do nothing but watch.

In the meantime, Rebecca suddenly left the room. Everyone didnt even notice she was gone even when she returned because they were focused on treating Adrian.

Everyone get out of my way! Rebecca shouted without hesitation, as she pushed her way between Sir Philip and Hans, holding something in her arms.

Rebecca?

This is a block ice from underground wine cellar.

Evelyn didnt even know that something like that existed in her Palace. But she wasnt surprised since Rebecca knew exactly every liquor in this Palace and where it was stored.

The wine cellar was specially made as an ice storage in every season except in summer. It was minimal in quantity and treated as a rare commodity, but now it was a matter of urgency.

Bring more handkerchiefs! Everyone, wrap the ice and place them on the Princes body. Hurry up!

Rebecca demonstrated how to compress Adrians skin with a handkerchief wrapped in ice. The maids afterwards also followed Rebeccas actions in perfect order.

Fever The fever has reduced a little!

Whether it was because the ice pack or the medicine had worked, Evelyn patted her chest, and Rebecca breathed a sigh of relief.

But Philips expression wasnt very bright. When the ice touched Adrians skin, the skin turned red, and the demons bite marks began to appear one by one on his body. Evelyn trembled at the sight of the terrible scar that she never wanted to see again.

Im sure The bite wound should have gotten better .

The bite marks of the Devil Eye that covered Adrians small body had gradually disappeared over time. The only thing left to do was to detoxify the poison. So Adrians sudden fever and bite marks appeared, taking Sir Philip by surprise.

Sir Philip, shouldnt the bite wounds already healed!

Well, thats .

Philip stared Adrians body once again, but it wasnt a hallucination, Ive never seen anything like this before. This is not a woundI dont know, but It looks like a bruise that remains under the skinI apologize

There was no sign of any cuts on Adrians skin, but the scars were too noticeable, and it was much more disturbing than before.

Probably, the poison that was left in the Princes body has started to recur again.

Hasnt he been detoxified with blood treatment?

It was a detoxification treatment, but Ive never done this before, so I cant tell you anything .

Philip was also confused. He had never handled a child with a condition like Adrian, so he couldnt provide an explanation.

Evelyn stood still with clenched lips that trembled every minute and second. Fortunately, after 5 minutes of being compressed, the fever decreased significantly enough to remove the ice packs on his body.

First of all, we do emergency treatment.

Hans carefully poured a blood medicine pill through Adrians lips under Philips guidance.

But I dont know the cause. I dont know why those terrible bite-marks reappeared. Evelyn abruptly stopped talking.

No, I think I know who it is..

There was anger in her blue eyes. She thought that once Fabian caught David, it would all be over. But she didnt think that he could do something like this without touching him. And Evelyn was mad at herself, too.

What did he do? Rebecca! Search all the items in the Empress Palace. It might be a poison. Especially those related to the Vatican . No, you have to search them all. Evelyn clasped Rebeccas hand tightly.

Princess, trust me. Ill never miss it.

Evelyn nodded in trust. Rebecca quickly led several ladies-in-waiting out of the room. The rest stayed behind to watch Adrians condition and wait for Fabian.

Not long after expected, Fabian arrived in the Empress Palace in quick steps.

Ive heard what happened.

Fabian waved to everyone who gave an example and walked towards Adrian. His black eyes soon hardened as cold as ice. The relief he felt when he heard Adrians breath, changed in a second after he saw the bite marks on his sons body.

whodare.

The two words contained immeasurable rage.

Philip, tell me his condition right now.

Fabians gaze was void. The kneeling Philip then looked at the Emperor in front of him.

I used sedactives and antibiotics to control the Princes high fever. Fortunately, the fever had subsided a little, but the bite marks arent wounds, but unknown marks. Maybe the remains of the poison in the Princes body are spreading again.

Didnt you already detoxify the poison?

I did, but Im sorry, but the symptoms are the same as when he was first bit by the demons.

What about blood medicine?

Ive already given him that medicine, but only as a slight cureall I can tell you is that this is a symptom of addiction.

The words that Evelyn had been afraid of all this time finally slipped out of Sir Philips mouth.

That cant be Your Majesty, Ive never fed Adrian anything strange. Even now, Rebecca is looking for suspicious items in this Palace, but I cant think of anything.

Fabian exhaled a deep, calm breath. It wasnt easy for him to say a word while dealing with the storm-like emotions inside him. Philip, say it right. Are you sure its a symptom of poison addiction? Tell the truth, with your neck at stake.

Yes, Im sure. This is a symptom of addiction caused by Demons poison, and its more dangerous than the first time he was bitten.

But hasnt the poison been detoxified? The proof, the child was getting healthier!

Probably due to an external factor which caused the poison in his body to reactivate. Looking at the blood medicine that doesnt work anymore, that is most likely what happened.

Why?

Philip sighed, Your Majesty, do you remember when I first saw his symptoms and warned you.

Fabian frowned. He was also sensitive to a poison addiction, as he also grew up as an Imperial successor and became an Emperor.

If he was poisoned by someone, he could survive as long as he avoided fatal injuries. But even with blood medicine, it would be impossible to treat if there were more than one type of poison in his body.

In the Book of Medicine, this is called as the root of poison.

One poison could be traced and neutralized, but the poison that had entered would combine with the blood and spread through the body like a root of evil.

If there were more than two poisons, they would mix, and the toxins would continually bind to one another and mutated throughout the body.

How come? .What have you all done?! Fabian asked everyone in the room in a cold voice, including to Evelyn.

Hes past the critical moment now. Philip said calmly. This is the hard-to-handle symptom of the poisons roots. However, if we can find the cause and identity of the new poisonhe can be cured.

Fabians jaw got tight. His gnashed molars showed precisely how he felt right now, Ill looking for it. Im going to find the culprit, tear them apart, and make them beg to be killed.

That voice awakened the blood of madness flowing in him. Even Evelyn felt Fabian was like another person she didnt know. But she had no time to pay more attention to him because it was for Adrian.

Whats the best that can be done for now?

For now Antibiotics and I will use blood medicine. We should at least prevent his condition from getting worse.

Damn it! Fabian gave out a low curse and clenched his fist.

I will do everything I can to treat him. But before he gets worse .. I need to know the cause of his addiction now to do basic treatment.

Time. How much time do we have?

Everyone focused on Philip, so he had trouble opening his mouth.

To the limit of the Princes physical strength So, I cant measure the timing precisely.

No one could be sure how longer Adrians small body could survive. His body had been exposed to the Demons poison before. But now the poison had taken root and had begun to bind his entire body.

Evelyn forgot how to breathe at that moment. That horror was never swallowed and couldnt be spat out again.

Evelyn!

Fabians strong arms caught Evelyns body beside him, which was about to fall from losing her balance. Her face was as pale as a blank sheet of paper, and her breath was chocking because she couldnt breathe properly.

Calm down. Breathe!

Fabian patted Evelyn on the back. Only then did Evelyn breathe out, vomiting her cough. She was hyperventilating as she was under tremendous mental pressure at once.

Evelyn. Fabian gripped Evelyns trembling shoulder firmly and matched their eyes.

Only

Evelyn, look at me.

Evelyns blue eyes eventually returned to focus.

Ive promised to protect you and our child.

Evelyn nodded her head in tears.

I will keep my promise.

Fabian repeated his words, swearing to himself to fill that promise. Evelyn used to protect herself and their child alone, but now she had him beside her.

Now, he was determined to do everything in his power, to redeem for his failure to protect them from the beginning.